The first festival was in 1973 and since then, year after year, the Umbria Jazz Festival is held in the second and the third weeks of July.
Its importance is witnessed by the artists that have played on the Festival's stage in the past years - jazz legends such as Ornette Coleman, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis amongst the others, joined by famous bluesmen as B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, James Brown and Eric Clapton. The Festival also includes the rock and pop genres, with the participation of Santana, Van Morrison, Sting, Elton John, Phil Collins and many other famous musicians.
Originally a travelling show, the Umbria Jazz Festival has been taking place only in Perugia since the second half of '90s. In 2003 the Arena Santa Giuliana became the main stage for the concerts of the most famous artists with the biggest crowds. Other venues are the Pavone Theatre and the Oratorio Santa Cecilia which are smaller than the Arena, but definitely more suitable to host the authentic Jazz sound in a more intimate atmosphere.
Piazza IV Novembre and Carducci Gardens also hosts a series of free daily concerts with a wider variety of music genres, in order to involve different kinds of audiences but at the same time keeping the focus on the quality of the live performances.
We should not forget a unique feature of the Umbria Jazz Festival, that is the link between music and good food and wine!
Passion for Italy clients who book their full Italy trip with us get a full list of the best hotspots for Festival happy hours, Jazz lunches, wine tastings and Jazz dinners. This is not available for those who
All Umbria Jazz Festival locations are in the centre of Perugia and are easily reached on foot. For our hotels in the city, see our Perugia accommodation or if you prefer to stay out of town see our Umbria accommodation. Please book a min of one year - six months in advance as accommodation is limited.
